Universal rolling mill stand having more than one caliber for rolling profiles beams such as i-beams

ABSTRACT

A universal rolling mill stand for reversing rolling of profiled material such as I-beams has at least two calibers which are formed by an adjustable pair of horizontal rolls and at least two pairs of vertical rolls. At least one of the pairs of vertical rolls is adjustable by power-operated means between passes, and for this purpose the rolls are mounted in an intermediate frame in which at least one roll is displaceable and which is displaceable in the stand. Edging rolls may be incorporated in the stand.

United States Patent Buchheit [54] UNIVERSAL ROLLING MILL STAND HAVING MORE THAN ONE CALIBER FOR ROLLING PROFILES BEAMS SUCH AS I-BEAMS [72] Inventor: Otto Karl Buchheit, St. Ingbert,

Saar, Germany [73] Assignee: Mueller 8: Newmann GmbH,

Ensheimer Str., Germany [22] Filed: Sept. 8, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 70,364

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 13, 1969 Germany ..P 19 46 547.9

[52] US. Cl ..72/225 [51] Int. Cl. ..B2lb 13/10 [58] Field of Search ..72/221, 188, 225

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1910 Grey ..72/225 420,498 2/ 18 90 Kriete .72/225 395,350 1/1889 Reese ..72/225 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,434,248 2/1966 France ..72/225 1,129,441 11/1962 Germany ..72/225 Primary Examiner--Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-Michael J. Keenan Attorney-John J. Dennemeyer [57] ABSTRACT A universal rolling mill stand for reversing rolling of profiled material such as I-beams has at least two calibers which are formed by an adjustable pair of horizontal rolls and at least two pairs of vertical rolls. At least one of the pairs of vertical rolls is adjustable by power-operated means between passes, and for this purpose the rolls are mounted in an intermediate frame in which at least one roll is displaceable and which is displaceable in the stand. Edging rolls may be incorporated-in the stand.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures UNIVERSAL ROLLING MILL STAND HAVING MORE THAN ONE CALIBER FOR ROLLING PROFILES BEAMS SUCH AS I-BEAMS Thisinvention relates to a universal rolling mill stand for rolling profiled beams such as I-beams which has more than one caliber formed by adjustable horizontal and vertical rolls the axes of which are disposed in the same vertical plane and which can be fed in reversing operation. A multiple caliber universal rolling mill stand of this kind in the form of a three-high stand is known from French Pat. specification No. 1,434,248.

However, the present invention is not limited to three-high universal mill stands, but is directed in particular to two-high universal mill stands, wherein, in agreement with the known three-high mill stand, the radial center axes of two pairs of vertical rolls are disposed in the same horizontal plane.

In the known three-high universal mill stand the vertical rolls form a rigid pass (see Berg-und Huttenmannische Monatshafte, Vol. 1, 13 pages 124 to 131, in particular page 125) for the reason that the vertical rolls are mounted in beams which extend transversely to the axes of the horizontal rolls and which are sup ported at both ends on the rolling beams. These beams and thus the vertical rolls are admittedly adjustable in a horizontal direction, but the rolls cannot be screweddown by power-operated means between passes. This explains the three-high construction of the known universal mill stand which necessarily must be selected if reversing rolling is to be effected in a multiple caliber rolling mill and only rigidly adjusted calibers are available. From this point of view the only multiple caliber universal mill stand which has become known heretofore is limited to at most three calibers or reversing passes because the vertical rolls provide rigid passes in operation and because of the three-high construction therewith. An increase of the number of calibers would require excessively long roll supporting shafts for the horizontal rolls because of the horizontal space requirement of the vertical roll pairs; alternatively more than three superimposed driven roll supporting shafts must be provided which is equally expensive.

It is an object of the invention to provide a universal rolling mill stand which has more than one caliber and which in reversing operation permits more than three passes to be effected, and which may be of three-high construction as well as preferable of two-high construction. A final object is to perform with a single universal mill stand all those passes for which heretofore a rnulti ple stand beam rolling train was required, inclusive of the finishing pass which was previously effected in a special finishing stand which by itself required a threehigh universal mill stand of the known kind.

This problem is solved according to the invention in that one of at least two calibers located in one plane is variable by power-operated means between passes in that chocks of vertical rolls are adjustably guided in guides which extend between the frames of the stand parallel to the horizontal rolls. In conjunction with the conventional facility for screwing-down the horizontal rolls the possibility is thereby produced for passing several times in one rolling process through at least one of two calibers whereby relief is provided for a preceding roughing mill stand and at least one universal mill stand is saved.

Independently of whether the known three-high construction or a two-high construction is selected as basic construction for utilizing the invention, in each case one of the calibers may be constructed as finishing caliber with cylindrical vertical rolls so that neglecting the roughing mill stand for producing primary or rough profiles the whole beam rolling train consists of only one universal mill stand. The two-high construction is preferred within the scope of the invention because of its lower construction cost and because it is indeed sufficient to have only two calibers including a finishing caliber when at least one of the calibers is variable by power-driven means between the passes. If such two-high construction is selected, reversible roll driving motors are obviously required because of the reversing operation of the rolling mill stand, in contrast to a three-high construction. The ensuing increase in cost, however, is out of proportion less than the cost of only one single caliber universal mill stand of conventional construction saved thereby.

The preferred two-high construction furthermore does not require expensive rocking or lifting tables, but requires only reversible roll ways or when a caliber operated as finishing caliber is passed through only once requires a reversible roll way, a simple roll way for the finishing caliber, and a cross feeder preceding the mill between the roll ways.

The constructional realization of the facility for varying by a motor or other power-operated means the calibers disposed in one plane creates a few problems inasmuch as a known pressure spindle screw-down device for screwing down the inner vertical rolls can be accommodated only with difficulty. Therefore a wedge adjustment for the inner vertical rolls would appear to be indicated.

This difficulty is avoided according to the invention in that only the outer vertical roll of a variable caliber is adjustable and symmetry of the caliber is produceable by a horizontal relative displacement between the vertical roll pair as a whole on the one hand and the associated horizontal roll pair on the other hand.

For maintaining the symmetry of the calibers when only one roll of the vertical roll pair is adjustable the invention provides two possibilities for effecting the relative displacement referred to. The one solution consists in that the superimposed roll supporting shafts for the horizontal rolls are axially adjustable in the same direction between passes by a power-operated adjusting device located at the shaft bearing end. The other preferred solution provides that the vertical roll pair for a caliber which is adjustable by power-operated means is mounted in an intermediate frame which is horizontally displaceable by a motor or other power-operated means and only the outer vertical roll is adjustably guided in the intermediate frame. In both cases, after or simultaneously with the adjustment of a narrower gap between the vertical rolls of a caliber, the associated horizontal roll or the respective vertical roll pair and the intermediate frame thereof, must be horizontally displaced by half the screw-down path of the outer vertical roll in order to maintain the symmetry of the caliber.

The intermediate frames for the vertical rolls may alternatively be disposed in a floating manner and in such way that they adjust themselves to the same vertical rolling pressures in rolling operation, as in the: case of a universal mill stand stressed by tie-rods and having a floating center frame in accordance with the German Pat. specification No. 1,129,441. It is obvious that displaceable intermediate frames for the vertical rolls in the sense of the invention can be realized also in classical frame stands in that the intermediate frames are guided and supported in horizontal guides of the stand frames within the window openings thereof.

Finally in order to ensure an extremely accurate symmetrical screw-down of the rolls of a vertical roll pair and to avoid as far as possible impacts on material being rolled at the entry thereof into the pass apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention may further include adjusting means which engage at least one vertical roll frame and which, dependently upon the screw-down path of the outer vertical roll, displace the associated frame and thus also the inner vertical roll mounted therein by half the screw-down path of the outer vertical roll in opposition to the screw-down direction thereof. In the case of axially fixed horizontal rolls a counter movement of the screw-down movements of the two vertical rolls of a vertical roll pair is enforced thereby symmetrically to the vertical center axis of the caliber. In order that this caliber symmetry is safely and reliably maintained during rolling, resilient members, such as springs, or hydraulic pressure compensating devices are disposed within the adjusting means with particular advantage, such as described in the German Pat. specification No. 1,057,049 for a single caliber universal mill stand.

The facility of power operated screw-down according to the invention of vertical rolls functionally associated with two calibers disposed in one horizontal plane brings about that the guides of the vertical rolls in the individual intermediate frames, unless the latter are cast on to the stand frames, must extend as far as between the stand frames because the dimensions of the frame columns normally do not permit long guides. For vertical roll intermediate frames guided at the stand frames further features of the invention therefore provide that these individual intermediate frames are supported and guided at their oppositely disposed ends projecting between the stand frames by support members connecting the stand frames. The outwardly projecting ends of the intermediate frames for the vertical rolls are preferably supported by lifting jacks.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a constructional example of the invention in the form of a multiple caliber universal rolling mill stand of tie-rod construction according to the German Pat. No. 1,129,441 with displaceable intermediate frames for the vertical rolls; in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of a stand considered in the rolling direction,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the intermediate frames for the vertical rolls with the upper part of the stand removed,

FIG. 3 is a section along the line III III in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a beam rolling train incorporating a universal mill stand according to the invention.

In a two caliber two-high universal mill stand according to the invention the constructional form of horizontally divided stand members is utilized the parts of which are held together by pro-stressed tie-rods. The stand illustrated consists substantially of an upper stand part 1 and a lower stand part 2 which are connected together under stress by means of four tierods 3 (FIG. 2). The horizontal roll supporting shafts 4 and 5 are mounted in the stand parts in chocks 6 and 7 which are symmetrically adjustable by screw-down screws 8 and 9. Each of the roll supporting shafts 4, 5 carries in the immediate vicinity of their chocks two horizontal rolls 4 and 4" or- 5 and 5", respectively, which are produced thereon by turning, for two calibers A and B.

According to the invention each pair of two pairs of vertical rolls 10, 11 and 12, 13, respectively, is disposed in a closed intermediate frame 14 or 15, the frames being disposed horizontally between the stand parts 1 and 2 which are in one piece in the direction of the roll axis of the stand. These intermediate frames 14, 15 for the vertical rolls comprise in their lateral limbs 14a or 15a rectangular openings 16, 17 for the tie-rods 3 to extend therethrough. However, the individual intermediate frames 14, 15 are not connected under stress by the tie-rods to the stand parts 1, 2, but the stressing force of the tie-rods, which are hydraulically extensible, extends through rectangular spacing members 18 which surround the tie-rods 3 and have a slightly greater length than the thickness of the intermediate frames 14, 15 for the vertical rolls in the region of the openings 16, 17 thereof. In this manner the individual intermediate frames l4, 15 are displaceably or floatingly disposed between the stand parts 1, 2. Nevertheless they are positively guided by the stressed spacing members 18 in their rectangular openings 16, 17.

The mutually oppositely disposed ends 14b and 15b of the vertical roll intermediate frames l4, 15 project from between the stand columns as may be seen from FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and are increased in thickness in the extension of their limbs 14a and 15a; they are supported or guided at these points by support members or brackets 1a and 2a of the stand parts 1, 2, the support members or brackets connecting the stand columns. In the vertical center plane of the roll supporting shafts 4 and 5 the vertical constructional height or thickness of the individual intermediate frames 14, I5 is continuously reduced, as may be seen from FIG. 3, to a dimension a little smaller than the minimum gap between the roll supporting shafts 4, 5. The outwardly projecting ends of the intermediate frames 4, 5 for the vertical rolls are supported by lifting jacks 20.

The inner vertical rolls 11 and 12 are rigidly mounted in the two horizontally disposed intermediate frames 14, 15 for the vertical rolls and only the outer vertical rolls l0 and 13 are adjustable by poweroperated means between the passes. For this purpose the outer vertical rolls 10, 13 are mounted in chocks 21, 22 which are adjustable by means of two pressure spindle pairs 23 and 24. The pressure spindle pairs are guided in caps 14c, 15c of the intermediate frames 14, 1S and the caps in turn are connected under stress to the limbs 14a, 15a of the intermediate frames by horizontal tie-rods not illustrated. The frame members 14c, 15c support drives 25, 26 which are not illustrated in detail and which include motors indicated by circles 27, 28 for rotating the pressure spindles 23, 24.

The two calibers A and B can be altered from pass to pass during reversing operation of the rolling mill stand owing to the described floating arrangement of the intermediate frames 14, 15 for the vertical rolls, the symmetrical adjustability of the horizontal rolls 4', 4" and 5', 5", and to the one sided adjustability of the vertical rolls and 13, wherein the caliber symmetry is adjusted, however, only upon entry of the material to be rolled into the pass, owing to the horizontal displacement of the respective intermediate frame 14 or 15; such displacement is effected because the vertical rolls of the filled caliber tend to adjust themselves to the same vertical rolling pressures, and this they are able to do owing to the floating arrangement of the inter-- mediate frame for the vertical rolls. In order to avoid the increased rolling start impacts associated with this arrangement, a further feature of the invention provides a positive displacement, for example of the intermediate frame 14, which is co-ordinated with the screw-down of the outer vertical roll 10; such co-ordinated displacement is obviously also required in the same manner for the caliber B, provided this caliber is not the finishing caliber which is invariable or which may be variable only for a programme change.

According to FIG. 1 the adjusting device for the frame 14 consists of a hydraulic measuring cylinder 32 which is fixed at to the lower stand part 2 under the outwardly projecting end of the intermediate frame 14 and a piston having a piston rod 33 which extends into a spring casing 34 which is fixed at 35 to the intermediate frame 14. The end 33a of the piston rod 33 is enlarged like a piston and is located between two strong helical springs 36, 37 which are prestressed between the piston-like end 33a and end covers of the spring casing 34. The springs 36, 37 are so strong, and the frame 14 is so easily movable on the lower stand part 2 for example by means of rollers 40, 41 (see also FIG. 3) that, dependently upon the adjusting direction, the one or the other of the compressed springs 36 or 37 is relaxed again to such extend that the relative position of the piston like-end 33 of the piston rod 33 within the spring casing 34 is maintained. In this manner the frame 14 is displaced exactly by the amount which is predetermined by a measured loading of the adjusting cylinder 32. However, to compensate any inaccuracies of the screw-down process for the caliber A the intermediate frame can adjust itself to produce equal vertical rolling pressures during the rolling process owing to the resilient members inserted between the adjusting means for the intermediate frame 14.

An equivalent for the illustrated symmetrical variability at least of the caliber A may consist in that the intermediate frames l4, 15 are non-displaceable and are thus under certain circumstances unitary with the stand columns or are even cast on to them, e.g. in a classical frame stand, that only the outer vertical rolls 10 are provided with a power operated screw-down device and that the horizontal rolls 4', 4" are axially displaceable. Since the construction of screw-down devices for superimposed rolls moving axially in the same direction are known for example from the German Pat. specification No. 963,144, a detailed description thereof can be omitted. A modification of the axial adjustability of the horizontal rolls for solving the problems posed within the scope of the invention,

namely to provide means for displacement of the outer vertical by power operated means between the passes and through half the screw-down path of the outer vertical rol'l can be easily performed.

Depending upon the rolling method used, the rolling of I-beams is known to require edging passes before or after the universal passes in order to influence the height of the flanges of the profile. In the same way as in the French Pat. specification referred to above, the universal rolling mill stand according to the invention comprises edging roll pairs 44 and 45 which are disposed in accordance with FIG. 3 in bearing housings lb and 2b which are unitary with the upper and lower stand parts 1 and 2 respectively. They also are adjustable between the passes by power operated means namely through pairs of synchronously driven screwdown spindles 46, 47. The drive of the edging rolls 44, 45, may be effected through jointed spindles from an enlarged main drive from which also extend the main spindles for driving the two roll support shafts 4 and 5. According y only one reversible driving motor is required for the whole two-caliber combined universal and edging mill stand according to the invention. The roll drive, however, is not a subject of this invention.

The illustration of a beam rolling train according to FIG. 4 shows a roughing stand 50 with roll ways 51,52 extending on the two sides thereof over the maximum length of the primary or rough profiles, for performing a plurality of primary or roughing passes in reversing operation. After an odd number of roughing passes the rolled material is moved by means of a cross conveyor 53 from the exit roll way to a roll way 54 in the line of which the caliber A of a two-caliber universal mill stand 55 is located. A roll way 56 is disposed in the continuation of the roll way 54 so that by means of the reversible roll ways 54, 56 and the adjustable caliber A of the universal mill 55 as well as the edging rolls 44, 45 all universal passes except one can be performed. Prior to the finishing pass in the caliber B, the vertical rolls 12, 13 of which have for this purpose cylindrical surfaces (FIG. I) the rolled material is shifted from the roll way 56 by means of a cross conveyor 57 in front of the caliber B and finished rolled in one pass. The finished rolled material travels on the axis roll way 58 for further treatment.

The offset stand arrangement of a beam rolling train according to FIG. 4 on two parallel lines does not serve alone for saving length of the rolling mill building owing to the overlap of the roll way lengths, but it makes possible also a simple construction of quick change devices for removing and inserting roll sets, or for interchanging changeover stands. As may be seen, there is located between the stands 50 and 55 a shifting platform or carriage 60 common to both stands which has two rail pairs 61, 62 and which can be displaced from the illustrated position in which either the roll set of the roughing stand 50 or the roll set of the universal stand 55 can be removed. The prepared interchange unit is deposited in either case on the respective free rail pair 61 or 62 and can be moved in front of the respective empty stand position by displacement of the stage 60 to the left for interchanging the roll set for the roughing stand 50, or to the right for interchangng the roll set of the universal mill stand 55. For this reason the two stands 56 and 55 are offset relatively to each other by only one displacement stroke of the carriage 60. The arrangement of a beam rolling train illustrated in FIG. 4 offers the stated advantages even when the universal mill stand 55 is a three-high mill stand with fixedly adjusted calibers for three reversing passes and accordingly, or by any other reason, an additional universal finishing mill stand is erected behind the universal mill stand in the continuation of the exit roll way 58.

It must be mentioned that in FIGS. 1 to 3 the entry guiding devices and in FIG. 1 the edging rolls have been omitted for clarity.

I claim:

1. A single universal rolling mill stand for reversing rolling of profiled beams comprising:

a. only two calibers in a common horizontal plane, at least one of said calibers being rapidly variable, each caliber being formed by pairs of cooperating horizontal and vertical rolls, each of said rolls having an axis, the axes of said vertical rolls lying in a common vertical plane, chocks for said vertical rolls, guide means for said chocks,

said checks and associated vertical rolls which form said rapidly variable caliber to a predetermined distance from said cooperating horizontal rolls,

only two roll supporting shafts for said horizontal rolls,

f. chocks for said roll supporting shafts,

g. a second power operated means for symmetrical adjustment of said roll supporting shafts,

h. whereby said rolling mill is capable of a plurality of reversing passes of said beams through said rapidly variable caliber and one last finishing pass through the other caliber. I 2. A universal mill stand according to claim 1 including reversible roll driving motors operatively coupled to said rolls to effect reversing rolling.

3. A universal rolling mill stand for reversing rolling of profiled beams comprising:

a. at least two calibers in a common horizontal plane, each caliber being formed by pairs of cooperating horizontal -and vertical rolls, each of said rolls having an axis, the axes of said vertical rolls lying in a common vertical plane, each pair of vertical rolls having an inner roll and an outer roll,

b. at least one pair of said pairs of vertical rolls being a first power operated means for setting at least I mounted in an intermediate frame in said mill stand, said intermediate frame being horizontally displaceable, only said outer vertical roll of said one pair being adjustably displaceable in said intermediate frame by a first power operated means,

0. at least two roll supporting shafts for said horizontal rolls,

d. a second power operated means for symmetrical adjustment of said roll supporting shafts,

e. whereby at least the caliber formed by said one pair of vertical rolls is rapidly variable so that said rolling mill is capable of a plurality of reversing passes of said beams.

4. A universal mill stand according to claim 3 wherein the universal mill stand is a two-high mill.

5 A umversal mill stand according to claim 3 wherein the caliber other than said caliber formed by said one pair of vertical rolls is a finishing caliber.

6. A universal mill stand according to claim 3, including a third power operated means for displacing said intermediate frame horizontally in said mill stand.

7. A universal mill stand according to claim 1 including superimposed roll supporting shafts-for the horizontal rolls which are axially adjustable in the same direction between passes by a power operated screwdown device disposed at the shaft end.

8. A universal mill stand according to claim 3 including at least two intermediate frames for said vertical rolls, said intermediate frames being floatingly arranged to adjust themselves to the same rolling pressure during a rolling operation.

9. A universal mill stand according to claim 6 wherein said third power operated means engage, said intermediate frame and, dependently upon the screwdown path of the outer vertical roll, displace the intermediate frame and the inner vertical roll mounted therein by half the screw-down path of the vertical roll in the opposite direction of the screw-down direction of the latter.

10. A universal mil stand according to claim 6 wherein resilient. means are associated with the third power operated means.

11. A universal mill stand according to claim 8 wherein the intermediate frames are supported and guided at oppositely disposed ends by brackets or supporting members in the mill stand.

12. A universal mill stand according to claim 11 wherein the ends of the intermediate frames are supported by lifting jacks. 

1. A single universal rolling mill stand for reversing rolling of profiled beams comprising: a. only two calibers in a common horizontal plane, at least one of said calibers being rapidly variable, each caliber being formed by pairs of cooperating horizontal and vertical rolls, each of said rolls having an axis, the axes of said vertical rolls lying in a common vertical plane, b. chocks for said vertical rolls, c. guide means for said chocks, d. a first power operated means for setting at least said chocks and associated vertical rolls which form said rapidly variable caliber to a predetermined distance from said cooperating horizontal rolls, e. only two roll supporting shafts for said horizontal rolls, f. chocks for said roll supporting shafts, g. a second power operated means for symmetrical adjustment of said roll supporting shafts, h. whereby said rolling mill is capable of a plurality of reversing passes of said beams through said rapidly variable caliber and one last finishing pass through the other caliber.
 2. A universal mill stand according to claim 1 including reversible roll driving motors operatively coupled to said rolls to effect reversing rolling.
 3. A universal rolling mill stand for reversing rolling of profiled beams comprising: a. at least two calibers in a common horizontal plane, each caliber being formed by pairs of cooperating horizontal and vertical rolls, each of said rolls having an axis, the axes of said vertical rolls lying in a common vertical plane, each pair of vertical rolls having an inner roll and an outer roll, b. at least one pair of said pairs of vertical rolls being mounted in an intermediate frame in said mill stand, said intermediate frame being horizontally displaceable, only said outer vertical roll of said one pair being adjustably displaceable in said intermediate frame by a first power operated means, c. at least two roll supporting shafts for said horizontal rolls, d. a second power operated means for symmetrical adjustment of said roll supporting shafts, e. whereby at least the caliber formed by said one pair of vertical rolls is rapidly variable so that said rolling mill is capable of a plurality of reversing passes of said beams.
 4. A universal mill stand according to claim 3 wherein the universal mill stand is a two-high mill.
 5. A universal mill stand according to claim 3 wherein the caliber other than said caliber formed by said one pair of vertical rolls is a finishing caliber.
 6. A universal mill stand according to claim 3, including a third power operated means for displacing said intermediate frame horizontally in said mill stand.
 7. A universal mill stand according to claim 1 including superimposed roll supporting shafts for the horizontal rolls which are axially adjustable in the same direction between passes by a power operated screw-down device disposed at the shaft end.
 8. A universal mill stand according to claim 3 including at least two intermediate frames for said vertical rolls, said intermediate frames being floatingly arranged to adjust themselves to the same rolling pressure during a rolling operation.
 9. A universal mill stand according to claim 6 wherein said third power operated means engage, said intermediate frame and, dependently upon the screw-down path of the outer vertical roll, displace the intermediate frame and the inner vertical roll mounted therein by half the screw-down path of the vertical roll in the opposite direction of the screw-down direction of the latter.
 10. A universal mil stand according to claim 6 wherein resilient means are associated with the third power operated means.
 11. A universal mill stand according to claim 8 wherein the intermediate frames are supported and guided at oppositely disposed ends by brackets or supporting members in the mill stand.
 12. A universal mill stand according to claim 11 wherein the ends of the intermediate frames are supported by lifting jacks. 